Broken Wings musical opens in London – watch first look trailer

A full musical adaptation of Kahlil Gibran’s Broken Wings has opened in London.

The show, by Nadim Naaman and Dana Al Fardan, has had previous concert productions but this will be its first full staging.

Directed by Bronagh Lagan, the production will play at Charing Cross Theatre from Tuesday 15 February 2022, with previews from 11 February, and run until 26 March 2022.

New York City, 1923. Through exquisite poetry and enchanting music, an ageing Gibran narrates our tale, transporting us back two decades and across continents, to turn-of-the-century Beirut. Gibran meets Selma; their connection is instant and their love affair, fated. However, their journey to happiness is soon thrown off course, as the pair face obstacles that shake the delicate foundation of their partnership. Will their love win out or will their dream of a life together be torn apart?

Performed in-the-round, Broken Wings takes us on an unmissable musical voyage, exploring issues of gender equality, immigration, the freedom to love who we love, and what ‘home’ really means to us. Over a century later, and the themes and debates raised in Gibran’s story, remain increasingly relevant today.

Tickets are on sale now from brokenwingsmusical.co.uk.

Nadim Naaman will play Kahlil Gibran with further casting including Yasmeen Audi (Layla Bawab/Ensemble), Haroun Al Jeddal (Mansour Bey Galib), Lucca Chadwick-Patel (Young Kahlil Gibran), Soophia Foroughi (Mother), Alex Kais (Ensemble), Nadim Naaman (Kahlil Gibran), Ayesha Patel (Dima Bawab) and Noah Sinigaglia (Selma Karamy).

Completing the company are Johan Munir (Bishop Bulos) and Stephen Rahman-Hughes (Faris).

Nadim Naaman said: “Nearly four years after our semi-staged concert debut, I am frankly ecstatic that Broken Wings is returning to London. This new Production will be the first time our musical is fully-staged.

“It feels particularly special to be bringing Gibran and a piece of Lebanon back to the London stage, following the many difficulties faced by the Lebanese people over the past few years. We are so grateful to Katy for her longstanding support and belief in Broken Wings, and we can’t wait to welcome audiences early next year.”

Katy Lipson of producers Aria Entertainment added: “As soon as I heard this beautiful and arresting score I became committed to bringing this story to the stage in London in a full production. I find it a unique musical set in the melting pot of the Middle East but with a familiar story of longing, loss and discovery with an incredible writing team.

“I hope audiences will enjoy the romance and beauty of the story and enjoy another powerful new musical which deserves to part of the cannon.”

About the author: Josh Darvill

Josh is Stageberry's editor with over five years of experience writing about theatre in the West End and across the UK. Prior to following his passion for musicals, he worked for more than a decade as a TV journalist.